Benifits of Yogurt

Yogurt is a healthful food made by adding a starter culture of bacteria to pasteurized milk. The bacteria naturally act on the milk's sugar to create lactic acid, which gives yogurt its characteristic thick, creamy texture and tangy taste. Some yogurts are heat-treated to increase shelf life, which kills the bacteria and its healthful attributes. The words live or active, used to describe bacteria in the list of ingredients, let consumers know the bacteria is living and functional. To keep the bacteria alive, keep yogurt refrigerated and eat it soon after the container is opened.

Some health benefits of yogurt

• Yogurt is rich in calcium, which is essential for maintaining colon health and reducing the risk of colon cancer.

• Calcium works with the live cultures found in some yogurt to increase absorption by the bones, making yogurt an excellent choice to help prevent osteoporosis.

• Yogurt is an important source of calcium for people who have difficulty digesting the lactose (sugar) in milk, because yogurt contains lactase -– the enzyme we need to break down lactose for proper digestion.

• Yogurt is rich in protein, B vitamins and essential minerals and low in carbohydrates. It's also low in fat (if you choose yogurt made from nonfat or low-fat milk).

Beneficial bacteria

Eating yogurt may help with digestion, but for yogurt to have this positive effect, you not only have to eat it with live bacteria, but you should also eat it daily. Why? Only a small amount of the bacteria it contains can withstand the acidity of our stomachs and reach the intestines. As well, the bacteria will pass through your digestive system within a day or two, so to ensure that it is in your intestines at all time, you should eat yogurt every day.

To make yogurt even healthier for consumers, some manufacturers are adding certain key nutrients that are often deficient in our diet. Check labels for nutrient contents.

Folic acid: Deficiency of this B vitamin is associated with congenital malformations in infants. Synthetic folic acid added to food is absorbed at almost twice the rate of that found naturally, making its addition to food extremely beneficial to pregnant and nursing women. Low levels of folic acid are also linked to coronary heart disease and stroke. You can find folic acid in Yoplait Source Cardio yogurt.

Vitamin D: Some yogurts contain this vitamin, which is important for helping our bodies absorb and use calcium. Vitamin D is especially important for people over 50, who need twice the amount as those under 50. You can find it in yogurts such as Astro Jeunesse, Yoplait Source, and Danone Activia, Cardiva and Silhouette.

Omega-3s: Since our bodies can't synthesize these essential fatty acids, we have to get them through food. Omega-3s contribute to normal growth and development of our brain, eyes and nervous system; they can also reduce the risk of heart disease, inflammatory problems and depression. You can find them in yogurts such as Astro BioBest Omega 3, Danone Cardiva and Yoplait Source Cardio.

The firm factor

Yogurt that is packaged, without being stirred, as soon as the milk and bacteria have coagulated is considered set or firm yogurt and is characterized by a jellylike texture. For fruit-on-the-bottom styles, the fruit is added to the container before the yogurt. To make stirred or drinkable types, the set yogurt is “broken” by stirring before it is packaged; flavouring and fruit are mixed in just prior to packaging. Generally firmness plays no role in the nutritional value of yogurt.

Yogurt is best when it is homemade and eaten daily, eat yogurt without any additional ingredients.